Dubai: A lift operator, who kissed the hand of a woman whom he had met for the first time inside the lift, has been jailed for three months.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 26-year-old Pakistani operator of molesting the South African woman by kissing her hand and attempting to hug her in September.
The South African told the police that the defendant, whom she had seen for the first time in her life, molested her in the elevator of the commercial tower, where she works in Dubai.
Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said the accused will be deported after serving his jail term.
The woman testified that shortly after the lift started moving up, the Pakistani accused extended his arm wanting to shake hands with her in September.
Once she shook hands with him, the defendant kissed her hand and tried to hug her before she stopped him.
The accused pleaded not guilty in court.
“I stood in one of the corners of the elevator … the man, whom I had never met before, asked about my nationality. As I answered him, he said he is a Pakistani … I greeted him verbally. As he was about to leave the elevator when the door opened, he extended his arm to shake hands with me. When I shook hands with him, he kissed my hand and I pulled it back quickly. I refused to give him my contact number when he asked for it. I was astonished as to why he did that unacceptable thing especially when I didn’t know him. I pushed him back when he tried to hug me … then I called the police,” she said.
Tuesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
